Scaffold ladder



Patented May 21, 1946 SCAFFOLD LADDER Yvon Sis-Mars, Verdun, Quebec,Canada Application November 2.5, 1944, In Canada May 29,

1 Claim.

The present invention pertains to a novel ladder designed particularlyfor use in erecting a scaiold. The principal object of the invention isto provide a ladder of such construction that a scaffold may be formedby passing a plank through a pair of identical ladders, without use offastening means. The scaiTold so constructed is so easily assembled anddisasembled that it can readily be moved from place to place in a smallroom much more easily than the furniture could be moved. Otheradvantages of the scaffold are set forth in the detailed description.

In the accomplishment of the stated object of the invention each of theladders includes a pair of stiles with steps secured therebetween in anysuitable manner. At a slight distance above each step is mounted astrong bar, preferably in opposed notches in the Stiles. The spacing ofeach bar above the next lower step is such as to permit insertion of aplank between the bar and the step and to cause the plank to betightbetween the bar and the step when the ladder is swung outward to arelatively small angle. f nus, when the ladders are diverged downwardlyto form a sufcient space, they are tightened against both surfaces ofthe inserted plank without the use of additional fastening means.

This construction is superior to a step-ladder inasmuch as the plank hassuflicient area to support the painters supplies for a considerablelength of time, thus enabling him to work without interruption andwithout the need of an assistant to hand him his materials.

The invention also includes a novel extension for the lower end of eachstile and designed particularly for a sloping ladder.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the followingdescription and in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a scaiTold constructed according tothe invention;

Figure 2 is a detail vertical section of one of the ladders;

Figure 3 is a corresponding front elevation, and

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view showing an extension leg attachedto the lower end of one of the ladders.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters thatare employed through- Serial No. 565,084

out to designate corresponding parts through- Y out.

In Figure l are shown two ladders, and inas- `much as both areidentical, it will be necessary to describe only one of them. Eachladder includes a pair of stiles I between which are fastened Yrungs orsteps 2 in any desired manner. A metal rod 3 may be mounted against thelower surface of each step 2, with its ends fastened in the Stiles, forreinforcing the steps.

Slightly above each step, each of the Stiles is formed with arectangular notch 4 in the inner edge. In each pair of opposed notchesis set a bar 5, extending from stile to stile, and fastened to bothstiles by any suitable means, such as nails Each bar is preferablymounted with its width standing vertically in order to provide greaterstrength for the purpose that will presently be described. The spacingof each bar above the corresponding step is such as to receive a plankor board 'I with such looseness as to permit only a slight angulartilting of the ladder, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1, moreover, illustrates the manner of forming a scaifold bymeans of two such ladders and one plank without the use of specialfastening means.' The plank is passed between corresponding steps 2 andadjacent bars 5 of two similar ladders, and the latter are swungoutwardly at the bottom, or divergently, to the extent permitted by thespacing between the respective steps and bars, as previously described.The plank l thus becomes tightened between the steps and bars, and thistightness is further increased when the plank supports the weight of theworker. The plank can obviously be ad-v justed to various heights asdesired.

The lower end of each stile I is formed with a longitudinal-series ofopenings 8. An eXtension 9 is attached to the lower end of each stile bya pair of bolts I0 passed through two openings 8 and through twocoinciding openings in the extension and 'tightened by wing nuts Il. Theextension carries a .pair of L-shaped brackets l2 overlapping the stileson the outer edges and thus serving as braces to prevent inward swingingof the extensions.

By means of a scaffold erected as described, a small room may be paintedwithout requiring the removal of the furniture as necessitated by theuse of a step ladder. This result is accomplished by mounting thescaffold in a manner that the ladders may straddle each piece offurniture in turn, that is, the piece of furniture stands between theladders. Also, by means of this device, a room can be painted by one manonly and he is not required-to run up and down the ladder frequently,-since he may place all Yquire an assistant to hand l Y, the plank 'lwhile retaining tails of construction may be used for hanging clothes`panting from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appendedclaim.

What I claim as my invention is: A scaffold comprising a pair of laddercomprising'a pair of stiles,

ladders, each steps between said Stiles, each stile being notched in oneedge; slightly above each step, abar secured in each pair of opposednotches, each bar having a Y than thickness and mounted with,

greater width its width standing vertical inthe erected ladder,

and a plank inserted between corresponding steps and bars of saidladders, said ladders diverging downwardly to tighten said plank be- Ytween said steps and bars.

YVON ST-MARS.

